ARLINGTON, Va., – Washington Capitals left wing Alexander Semin, who led the NHL with 16 points in October, has been named the league’s First Star of the Month, the NHL announced today.

In addition, Washington prospect Keith Aucoin of the Hershey Bears was named the American Hockey League’s Player of the Month for October, giving the Capitals organization a sweep of those awards for North America ’s top two professional hockey leagues.

Semin’s 16 points in nine games included eight goals and a +7 rating as he recorded points in eight of nine games and goals in six of nine. He matched Dale Hunter (one goal, 15 assists in 1991-92) for the most points by a Capital in the first nine games of a season.

Semin becomes the sixth Capital to be named the NHL’s Player of the Month or First Star of the Month since the awards were first presented in 1980-81. Alex Ovechkin has won the awards three times (Jan. 2006, Jan. 2008 and March 2008).

New York Rangers goaltender Henrik Lundqvist and Nashville defenseman Shea Weber were the NHL’s second and third stars for the month of October, respectively.

“If you grow up in metro Washington, you grow up a diehard Redskins fan. But if you hate your parents, you grow up a Cowboys fan.”-Jim Lachey